Police Engagement

PCSO Sean Herdman, Hounslow, London

“We had other sports initiatives but they were not that well received. It was by accident that I found out about StreetChance. My Sergeant mentioned it and it was straight away that I knew - in Hounslow we needed cricket!”

Sean Herdman knew little about cricket but he knew that it was the perfect tool for his Safer Neighbourhood Team of Heston East, in the Borough of Hounslow, to engage local youths. Knowing the local area and its demographic, Sean recommended the Heston Community Centre as an ideal site for hosting StreetChance community sessions in 2010.

“The session had reasonable numbers when I first attended, but I began to bring more officers from my team down and then the session really took off!”

Since Heston East SNT really got behind the session, it has been known for up to 30 youngsters to turn up, plus a handful of parents who occasionally are tempted to turn their arm over and have a hit themselves. Such has been the success of the project, PCSO Herdman and the StreetChance coaching team are looking to split the group into juniors and seniors, accommodating them by adding the use of an adjacent sports pitch.

PCSO Herdman is convinced of the value of engaging with StreetChance for a few hours each week:

“When we play cricket with the youngsters, we are on a level playing field, we are one of them. It’s great for young people to see the nice side of police, most of them will only see officers when things are going wrong. Playing cricket together lets them know we are approachable and we are normal human beings.”

Through an increased rapport developed with youngsters in Hounslow, local police have been able to use the opportunity to educate them on what Sean refers to as the “pitfalls and dangers” of criminal activity and inform them of the latest news on crime in the area to help them stay safe. Furthermore, Sean and his team have received information of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in the immediate locality, directly from StreetChance participants’ own reports.

Barriers between police and youngsters have truly been broken down, as well as trust built up - all through StreetChance cricket in Hounslow.